Want Your Law Firm Website to Be Effective? Make Sure It Has These 7 Things

By: Amanda Griffin

Summary: A website can be the make-it or break-it factor for a law firm when it comes down to attracting more clients.

Law firms that do not have a website in this day and age are missing out on a lot of potential clients. Our culture relies on being able to prescreen companies based on their website and reviews. Websites are like business cards. They let potential clients know that you are professional, open for business, and that they should come visit you.

As a law firm, you are in the business of providing service to clients with your amazing attorneys and support staff. A website is the first service you provide. In order for your website to be the most effective, make sure it has these seven things:

Contact information on every page of your website so potential clients can easily call you, email you, fax you, and/or drive to your office if they need to. Make sure this information is easy to find if using a smartphone or tablet as well. Include any other information that will be useful for someone to find you, including parking, bus routes, etc.

A picture and short biography will help you appear more personable. Your website is your chance to make a good first impression, so don’t mess it up. Hire a good photographer to take headshots. Give a brief explanation of your credentials, but spend more effort describing your experience and what kind of work you do.

A home page so potential clients know they are on the right webpage. This home page should make it clear what kind of service you provide, whether it is specific to a practice area, or if your law firm caters to a number of practices.

Use language that the average person will understand. Potential clients will get a bad idea of what kind of service they can expect from you if they can’t even understand what you are saying on your website.

Client reviews are a great way for visitors to develop confidence in your firm’s abilities. The reviews can be in the form of video, audio, or text.

Responsive web design allows for users on smartphones, tablets, desktops, and laptops to view and use your website with ease. Responsive design means that the page automatically shrinks as the screen size shrinks and elements on the screen automatically shrink or are hidden as well.

Include a blog where your firm can explore content marketing. Building an interaction with visitors to the website can develop into other opportunities. A blog also shows potential clients what topics your firm is interested in and affected by.